Your ultimate guide to the coast
This time of year is the perfect time to visit Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island, at least if you enjoy eating good food. The Amelia Island Restaurant Week kicks off on January 22, 2012 and lasts until January 29. This is the perfect time to visit the area to explore restaurants.
Participating restaurants offer a fixed price menu, so for $19 or $29 you get a three course meal.
http://www.ameliaisland.com/plan-your-vacation/memorable-offers/2012-restaurant-week/
Mardi Gras traditionally takes place before the fasting season of Lent, its origins go all the way back to the ancient Rome. Many cities continue the tradition today, for example Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana, and maybe the most famous celebration of them all takes place in Rio de Janeiro.
But did you know that here on the coast of Georgia, we actually have two festivals of our own.  St. Marys Mardi Gras Festival has a long tradition, in 2012 it will be;the 18th year for the family friendly Mardi Gras festival. Tybee Island is slightly behind in years anyway – but the Tybee Island Mardi Gras Festival makes up for that with lots of activities, events and participants.Â
Mardi Gras St Marys
The Annual Mardi Gras Festival and Parade will showcase festive floats and costumes. This is one of the most popular annual festivals in St Marys. Everyone comes downtown to view the Mardi Gras parade and catch beads.
A 10 a.m. parade will kick off the festival and the parade is followed by an action-packed day of entertainment, arts and crafts, and amusements. This year there is also a Chili Cook Off and a Pet Costume Contest. The, when the sun goes down , adults can continue to the Mardi Gras Ball. Â A new King and Queen are chosen and prizes are awarded for best costumes.Â
Tickets for the ball are available at the St. Marys Welcome Center and Once Upon a Bookseller in Downtown St. Marys. Beads are also available at the bookstore on days leading up to the festival. For more information, call 912-882-7350 or 912-552-0072.
The Mardi Gras Festival includes a parade and live entertainment on Saturday, February 18, 2012.
For more information, please call St Marys Convention and Visitors Bureau at 912.882.4000 or visit www.stmaryswelcome.com
Mardi Gras Tybee
Tybee Island is celebrating Mardi Gras for the second time this year.
Purple, gold and green flags will dress up Tybee Island for the party. Mardi Gras Tybee kicks off with a Masquerade Ball on Friday, February 12th at 8pm, hosted by Fannies on the Beach. Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
On Saturday February 13th, there will be a Mardi Gras parade at 3pm down Butler Avenue and a street party with music and festivities on Tybrisa Street. Join the fun, listen to authentic Zydeco music featuring Brad Randell and the Zydeco Ballers, All American All Star Dixieland Review and Jeff Beasley Band. The music starts already at noon. Admission to the street party and parade viewing is free.
Read more on our page for Tybee Island Mardi Gras Festival
Tickets for the Fantasy Masquerade Ball can be purchased online at www.mardigrastybee.com
October is a month filled with festivals and happenings — and it’s usually one of the best times of the year to spend time outdoors. There is a lot more happening in October than just Halloween and Oktoberfests. Just take a look at some of our suggestions below.
October 7, 2011
The art walk in St. Augustine is a social affair with lots of people mingling in the streets outside the many quaint shops, galleries and other venues participating. Read more – First Friday Artwalk St Augustine, Florida
October 1 – 2, 2011
Spice things up with the datil pepper at this festival. The datil pepper is celebrated at this festival in St. Augustine every year. More details here – Datil Pepper Festival.
October 2 – 9, 2011
The well-known jazz musician Les deMerle has been the driving force behind this popular jazz festival for many years and created an exciting program. Read more here – Amelia Island Jazz Festival
October 5, 2011
This is a monthly event in downtown Jacksonville. This month the theme for the event is “Hispanic Heritage” Find out more on the page for First Wednesday Art Walk
October 7 – 9, 2011
Experience food and culture from Greece, without leaving your own backyard – just come to this festival in October. Read all about it here – Greek Festival in St. Augustine
Jacksonville Film Festival
October 13 – 16, 2011
The film festival seems to becoming more popular every year. The opening night always takes place at the San Marco Theatre in downtown Jacksonville. Get more details on our page for Jacksonville Film Festival
Daytona Blues Festival – Daytona Beach, Fl
October 7 – 9, 2011
 This festival features the best in Blues music at the most beautiful time of year at Jackie Robinson Memorial Stadium in Downtown Daytona Beach.
October 13 -16, 2011
Motorcyclists from near and far will converge in Daytona for the special Biketoberfest. Biketoberfest® is an international award-winning motorcycle festival offering a getaway weekend filled with bikes, sun, beaches and most importantly – lots of fun. During this event, traditionally scheduled on the third weekend in October, you can enjoy delicious food, live music and lots of people-watching.Read more on our event page for Biketoberfest.
October 20-23, 2011 & October 27-31, 2011
Come to Jacksonville Zoo for the spooktacular Halloween celebration – safe for children. Pirates cove, Pumpking Patch, Enchanted Forest and much more. Â 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Click here for more information.Â
 Southern Women’s Show
Oct 20 – 23, 2011
The Southern Women’s Show returns to Prime Osborne Convention Center. This year it’s the 24th annual show.
women can shop for beautiful jewelry and hip handbags, watch fabulous fashion shows, attend cooking demonstrations and sample gourmet foods, treat themselves to makeovers, and meet celebrity guests! Visit their website for more info.
October 21 – 23, 2011
This is a car show and event for car enthusiasts from the region with lots of events around Daytona Beach, Florida. Read more on our special page for Daytona Beach Dream Cruise
Every month antique dealers and art galleries in the Old City’s San Marco District hold the popular event Uptown Saturday Night. This monthly art event combines a festive party atmosphere with hospitality and special deals. Find out more here – Uptown Saturday Night
Ahoy, it’s time again for the pirates to gather in the old city for the old tradition of the pirate gathering. This is a popular event in St. Augustine with lots of fun for the whole family. Go find your eye patch, your lassie, parrot and peg leg and head to the old city for a boat load of fun. Read more about the pirate gathering here.
October 27 – 31, 2010
The football fans from both universities will gather in Jacksonville for the annual battle between the two giants. Lots of events and happenings around town. Read more here Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic
Charleston, SC, June 20, 2011 – The Charleston International Film Festival (CIFF), South Carolina’s premiere event for independent filmmakers and film enthusiasts, would like to announce the Best of Shorts Screening on June 29th at the Cinebarre in Mt. Pleasant.
If you missed the Charleston International Film Festival main event, you have the chance on Wednesday to catch festival short film award winners and audience favorites at both 7PM and 9PM.
The programs will feature different films, but both include at least 7-8 shorts films of all genres in under two hours, making for a fun and unique film night out. Tickets are available at the Cinebarre box office for $8 day of or $7 in advance online at www.CharlestonIFF.com
7PM Short Block
Rooftop – Music video with local musician Emily Hearn with an appearance by Bill Murray. (Re)Discovering Don ZanFagna – Internationally acclaimed local artist, whose work has been featured in Charleston Magazine, this short documentary displays his work that is being rediscovered and appreciated after 30 years.
The Tub – Frannie (Dedee Pfeiffer) reluctantly relives her life and her lovers, guided by a mysterious woman whom she thinks she knows.
God and Vodka -The story of a writer’s final attempt to capture the words and memories, both touching and comedic, of a relationship that ended all too soon.
November – From Norway, this story is to remember and to forget the loss of loved ones. A visual and symbolic journey.
The Buck Johnson Story – A comedic short about a struggling writer, Dave, who feels the only way out of his Pork Pen job is this story about a wild redneck character, Buck F*@$in Johnson.
Place Stamp Here – The world disassembles us, and then puts us back together. This process repeats & repeats & we are never quite the same as when we started. Then again, neither is the world. Animation by twins Joy Vaccese and Noelle Melody.
How Tourette’s Saved My Life – Short comedy from local Art Institute student, this is a slice of life from a man who copes with Tourette’s Syndrome, and finds his outbursts saving his life.
9PM Shorts Block
Theatre Marvelosa presents “Zee Hat!!†– Local group revels, set in a French Bistro, Ravello sings to Zee Hat!! His prize possession, as Tanti Bacci tries to prove her love for him by vowing to retrieve Zee Hat when it is stolen by Ze Fox.
Saying Goodbye – SC filmmakers present this story about a woman who has lost everything moves into a southern nursing home where a cat with the ability to predict death and a spunky fellow resident inspire her to enjoy living again.
The Perfect Hurl – An innocent 14-year-old wanders moonlit suburbia with his daredevil classmates. His first taste of trouble is one to savor.
Jeremy – When his incarcerated father is transferred to a distant prison, fourteen year-old Jeremy must face life alone with his game-show addicted brother and two violent older half-brothers.
The Story of Us – The Story of Us is about a guy who finds himself blinded by his past love. Atroz – This comedy from Spain is about ‘Awful’ a singular teddy bear, a worn and curmudgeon one, whose owner is Luna, a little girl who has taken him as her best friend.
Sexting – People are not who they seem to be when a misdirected text message leads a young woman to meet with the wife of her boyfriend and ask what is really going on in their relationship.
Visit our special events page for Charleston International Film Festival
About CIFF Charleston International Film Festival
(CIFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to educate, entertain, and inspire through the art and science of film. Co-founded in 2007, by film producer Summer Spooner Peacher and Charleston native Brian Peacher, the festival showcases over 70 short films, features and documentaries from around the world. Attendees gather for five days every Spring to attend premieres, panels, special events and the Annual Awards Gala.
Other pages:
Annual Events & Festivals in Charleston, SC
This year it’s the 48th Anniversary for the popular Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival in Historic Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island ,Florida. This year the festival is scheduled for April 29 – May 1, 2011. Now this event is one of the first events we visited when we moved to the coast so it will always be special to me. Don’t take my word for it come and check out the festival for yourself and let me know what you think.
For all the details checkout our Shrimp Festival page